Descending Road - TO THE MEMWALL by Dana W. Paxson

TO THE MEMWALL

1560 4D

“Tomas.” My mader‘s voice.

“Ma?” My voice doesn’t sound like much.

“Tomy! He’s back!” Sounds of moving chairs and crying. I finally get an eye open, and a smooth cream-colored ceiling shows itself to me. The air is fresh. No more built-in pyro smell.

I reach up with a finger. My cheeks are healed.

The hospital aides won’t let Ma hug me. I call out, “Ma?”

“Tomy! What do you want? Can I get you something?”

Armana, as usual, is standing behind her looking me over.

I ignore him. “Nothing, Ma. I just wanted to say thank you.” I’m babbling, but I don’t care. She found the stat reversal, she brought me out with Nadienne, she taught me to walk slow and calm through hell.

Later I’ll say thank you again, and I’ll try to explain. I fade into a dream.

I’m going to find Nadienne. When I do, we’ll go over to the orchidist’s for the darkblooms, and we’ll take them up to Tyrae to the memwall, and torch them for Essa and Jackie B, and smear our lost friends’ names in scented ashes on the wall. And then I’ll hold Nadienne, and for all of what I’ve burned, I’ll softly cry.

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USER SURVEY	PUZZLE ME	MAKE ELM MARK

HOVER Lucida Bright BARE	HOVER Lucida Bright FULL	HOVER Palatino Linotype BARE
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PAD Lucida Bright FULL	PAD Times New Roman BARE	PAD Times New Roman FULL


	TO THE MEMWALL 1560 4D “Tomas.” My mader‘s voice. “Ma?” My voice doesn’t sound like much. “Tomy! He’s back!” Sounds of moving chairs and crying. I finally get an eye open, and a smooth cream-colored ceiling shows itself to me. The air is fresh. No more built-in pyro smell. I reach up with a finger. My cheeks are healed. The hospital aides won’t let Ma hug me. I call out, “Ma?” “Tomy! What do you want? Can I get you something?” Armana, as usual, is standing behind her looking me over. I ignore him. “Nothing, Ma. I just wanted to say thank you.” I’m babbling, but I don’t care. She found the stat reversal, she brought me out with Nadienne, she taught me to walk slow and calm through hell. Later I’ll say thank you again, and I’ll try to explain. I fade into a dream. I’m going to find Nadienne. When I do, we’ll go over to the orchidist’s for the darkblooms, and we’ll take them up to Tyrae to the memwall, and torch them for Essa and Jackie B, and smear our lost friends’ names in scented ashes on the wall. And then I’ll hold Nadienne, and for all of what I’ve burned, I’ll softly cry.